Ski mountaineers chase chance to compete in Europe

WINTERSPORTS -- In bitter cold temperatures, ski mountaineers tested themselves against the mountain, competitors and themselves last weekend at Brundage Mountain near McCall.

The Northwest Passage Ski Mountaineering Race, Dec. 16-17 at Brundage Mountain, attracted some of the top backcountry skiers in the country. Skimo competition, as it's called, is garnering regional and international status with a shot at being an Olympic sport in the future. The McCall race was a world-caliber qualifying event.

Here's a video report on the race and interview with winner John Gaston from the Idaho Statesman:

Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.